Marc Buoniconti is the co-founder of the Miami Project to cure paralysis, a nonprofit medical research organization. The project was founded in 1985 by Mark and his father Nicholas, a former Hall of Fame football player, when Mark suffered a spinal cord injury. In 2007, Mark was still confined to a wheelchair, but the project of Miami has become the largest world's spinal cord injury research and treatment center. It had 250 employees, operates on $ 37 million of the art facility located at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine campus, and raised more than $ 275 million since its inception. However, still no cure for spinal cord injuries, and many of the supporters of the project is becoming disturbing for significant clinical breakthrough. Fundraising has always been a concern, in particular, public spending on research and development is reduced. Mark and his father were well aware of the task of maintaining enthusiasm and financial support to the project proponents Miami. But they are necessary to avoid over-promising on the probability of a potential breakthrough that requires careful research and rigorous clinical trials. Management also questioned whether the mission should remain focused on spinal cord injury, or whether it should be expanded to include brain injuries and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The case provides an opportunity to discuss problems nonprofit management, medical research, and to discuss appropriate strategies for the Miami Project in 2007. "Hide
by Robert Steven Kaplan, Christopher Marquis, Brent Kazan Source: Harvard Business School 22 pages. Publication Date: June 30, 2008. Prod. #: 408003-PDF-ENG